On September 26th, Oregon’s Management-Labor Advisory Committee’s (MLAC) Access to Care Subcommittee met to review stakeholder proposals aimed at improving access to care for injured workers.

Stakeholder proposals included:

• Standardizing preauthorization procedures, including an injured worker’s right to appeal if an insurer or Managed Care Organization (MCO) fails to respond within required timeframes
• Expanding attending provider status to Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Physician Assistants (PAs), and opening MCO panels to allow new providers. Currently NPs and PAs are only allowed to treat an injured worker for 180-days, which can disrupt treatment
• Introducing provider participation incentives, such as higher reimbursement rates, student loan forgiveness, and a dedicated retirement fund for medical providers
• Adding a new MCO to build provider networks. There are only three active MCOs and expanding them could help build stronger provider networks, addressing long-standing access issues

During the discussion, several stakeholders raised concerns about the administrative burdens imposed by MCOs, highlighting inefficiencies that may hinder timely access to care. There were also differing views on which provider types are best suited to deliver high-quality treatment.

Charged with identifying and addressing barriers within the workers’ compensation system, the subcommittee will present its findings and recommendations to MLAC for further consideration and potential policy action. The subcommittee will continue gathering input before finalizing its recommendations.